evaluation of the WMM
CEP – Evaluation of the Working Memory Model
Atkinson’s and Shiffrin’s (1968) multi-store model was extremely successful in terms of the amount of research it generated. However, as a result of this research, it became apparent that there were a number of problems with their ideas concerning the characteristics of short-term memory. Building on this research, Baddeley and Hitch (1974) developed an alternative model of short-term memory which they called working memory. Baddeley and Hitch (1974) argued that the picture of short-term memory (STM) provided by the Multi-Store Model is far too simple. According to the Multi-Store Model, STM holds limited amounts of information for short periods of time with relatively little processing. It is a unitary system. This means it is a single system (or store) without any subsystems. Working Memory is not a unitary store.1
Baddeley and Hitch (1974) developed the term ‘working memory model’ to refer to the aspect of memory that you use when you work on a complex task that requires you to store / retain information as you go along. For instance when you area calculating difficult sums such as 54+40+60, firstly you add the initial two numbers together (54+40=94) then you have to retain/store the answer within the working memory model before adding this number to the final (94+60). Or another example is where you are reading an extract of text, you would store in the working memory model whilst determining the meaning of the sentence. Baddeley and Hitch believed that the short-term memory was not just a unitary store, but that it contains sub-units (or slave systems as they are named). The reasons why they thought this was because of observing how when you complete two separate tasks at the same time (one being a visual task and the other being an auditory task) then there is no interference between the two tasks, you would be able to do them as well simultaneously as you would if you did them separately. This would suggest
Atkinson’s and Shiffrin’s (1968) multi-store model was extremely successful in terms of the amount of research it generated. However, as a result of this research, it became apparent that there were a number of problems with their ideas concerning the characteristics of short-term memory. Building on this research, Baddeley and Hitch (1974) developed an alternative model of short-term memory which they called working memory. Baddeley and Hitch (1974) argued that the picture of short-term memory (STM) provided by the Multi-Store Model is far too simple. According to the Multi-Store Model, STM holds limited amounts of information for short periods of time with relatively little processing. It is a unitary system. This means it is a single system (or store) without any subsystems. Working Memory is not a unitary store.1
Baddeley and Hitch (1974) developed the term ‘working memory model’ to refer to the aspect of memory that you use when you work on a complex task that requires you to store / retain information as you go along. For instance when you area calculating difficult sums such as 54+40+60, firstly you add the initial two numbers together (54+40=94) then you have to retain/store the answer within the working memory model before adding this number to the final (94+60). Or another example is where you are reading an extract of text, you would store in the working memory model whilst determining the meaning of the sentence. Baddeley and Hitch believed that the short-term memory was not just a unitary store, but that it contains sub-units (or slave systems as they are named). The reasons why they thought this was because of observing how when you complete two separate tasks at the same time (one being a visual task and the other being an auditory task) then there is no interference between the two tasks, you would be able to do them as well simultaneously as you would if you did them separately. This would suggest
Bibliography: Psychology AS – The Complete Companion (Mike Cardwell, Cara Flanagan) 2008 -used as a direct source for information, but also to check information found on the internet sites (sites shown below) - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baddeley 's_model_of_working_memory - http://gocognitive.net/interviews/introduction-phonological-loop - http://www.psypress.co.uk/ek5/resources/demo_ch06-sc-02.asp - http://www.sagepub.com/upm-data/42874_Henry.pdf - http://www.s-cool.co.uk/a-level/psychology/human-memory/revise-it/models-of-memory